Saket Gokhale. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday (September 10, 2026) alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has not responded to a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking information on the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) though 84 days have passed since the application was made.
Shortly after the Trinamool was defeated in the West Bengal Assembly elections in May 20 of 28 Lok Sabha MPs elected on the party’s ticket shifted loyalties to the NCPI, a registered unrecognised political party (RUPP) little known until then.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, former Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale said the RTI application, filed by him on June 16, sought records related to the NCPI’s registration, constitution, office-bearers, audited accounts, election expenditure and participation in elections. It also sought copies of contribution reports filed under Section 29C of the Representation of the People Act, records of donations received by the party and details of any inspection or inquiry conducted by the EC.
Mr. Gokhale noted that the NCPI was registered in West Bengal in 2023 and had contested elections only once. The RTI also sought records relating to verification of the party’s registered office and whether it was functioning. “It has been over 84 days and the Election Commission has just not responded,” he said.
‘Conduits for money-laundering’
The issue has assumed significance, Mr. Gokhale said, in light of a recent report on registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs) showing disproportionate donations received by them and their markedly abysmal participation in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Six of these parties registered in Gujarat had allegedly received contributions amounting to ₹1,700 crore.
Pointing out that a Trinamool press conference on the issue, scheduled on Monday, had been cancelled because of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) search at the party office in Delhi, Mr. Gokhale asked, “Why is there no investigation or action against the RUPPs?” Contributions to political parties are tax-exempt which allows entities such as these, Mr. Gokhale said, to be used as conduits for money laundering. He also questioned whether the absence of action was linked to alleged ties between the parties and the BJP.
Referring to the NCPI, Mr. Gokhale asked the EC to disclose details about the party’s office-bearers and organisational structure. He further alleged that the party had not filed contribution reports for the past two years and questioned how 20 sitting Lok Sabha MPs, elected on Trinamool Congress tickets and now aligned with the NCPI, could have joined the outfit without a greater scrutiny of its credentials.
He said a second RTI application, filed with the Lok Sabha Secretariat, sought records related to the 20 MPs’ claim of having left the Trinamool and joined the NCPI, including communications, representations and decisions linked to the matter.
Published – September 10, 2026 10:10 pm IST
